The Republican journal., 1887-12-29

the patio and repair to the dning-room where
supper is spread. and everybody finds at his
plate some souvenir of the season in gifts and
confectionery. Time was when these
"RECUERDOs DEL PoRADAs'
We're very costly. consisting Of jewels and
articles in gold and silver; but of later years.
Since the proudest grandees are no more rich
as in the old days, The souvenirs, or 'recucr-
dos are mostly flowers, bonboncres, and other
inexpensive triicS. After supper and the dis
tribution of gifts. the musicians are summoned
to the sala to play dan=ds and watzes till the
wee sma' hours of the morning.
Not until the ninth night, Christmas eve. is
the climax of the festival reached in What is
known as the Nacimiento, commemorative of
the actual birth of Christ. A young lady who
has been selected to be "Madrina," or god
mother to the holy infant. receives a written
invitation, of which | give you translation
verbatim: "senorita querida mia: The Mes
siah will visit our poor earth tonight in the
form of an infant. Knowing YOU to he yirtu-
ous, generous. and large-hearted, we ask you
to receive this Chilt-Jesus in your arms and
carry him to the humble stable in bethlehem.
where his mother. the Virgin Mary. and his
foster father. St Joseph, await him.
At 10 O'Clock on Christmas eve, the process
sion IS formed as before, with the exception
that instead of the brancarl borne by "MaidS
Of Honor" several little children. as deunt
cOnfterS. precede the Madrina. who bears in
her arms wax image of the child Jcsus.-in
reality wax doll dressed in infants clothes.
After making the usual circuit nine times, sing
lng as they 20. the procession at length cmerges
son THE ROAD TO BETIiLEHEM,"
where all pause and chant the beautiful tiffany
to the Virgin. the children responding .Nudre
NunttSSlHd. orr pro noJis. This road to
Bethlehem. the wayside hamlcts. the stable,
etc are all carefully arranged in the large
room which before served is the abode of the
Bethlehemte family.
The most perfect one have seen had the walls
OF tins apartment covered With tapestry repre-
sentln@ Judean landscapes. From the ceiling,
which was studded with silver stars. We're sllS-
pended several angels, who were supposed to
guard the mountain passes and watch over the
stable where the holy family rested Bethlehem.
the hills about, and the neighborin@ hamlets
We're all constructed i'll picturesque and ar
tistic manner barring some anachroni>ms.-
such, for example, as Ju,lean madens sitting in
their poor huts in white satin ball dresses, a
shepherd on lonely hill guarding his flock
with Il gln. and the sacred stable carpetet with
costly Persian rug
4 >lvery cascade rushed down the mountain
sioe and einptied into placid lake formed by
Il large mirror on which ducks and geese We're
swimming; shepherd was guiding his flock
over bridge that spanned pebblc-bottOmed
stream: women were washing at the fountains;
Judcan maidcnS carrying jars of water from
the wells; and cattle browsed upon the hills
We looked into the huts where the white
satin robed Ju,lean inaidenS pursued their
humble avocatonS: we visited the caves where
the shepherds who watched their tlock> hv
night We're seated on the ground eating
their frugal >upperS-with diamond -ewelled
fingers: We passed the Pilgrims. who. laden
with offerings for the Messiah, We're toiline up
steep hill; and afar oil on Il mountain top.
we beheld three funnily-turtaued figures fol-
lowed by slaves, who bore baskets supposed to
contain mNrrh frankincen>e and sweet spices.
These, of course. We're
THE MAGI,
who had halted and We're eagerly scanning the
country. as If in search of some particular To-
caity. One, who personated Melchor, point
ed to bright star (of silver paper) which hung
over the strawthatehed. PcrSian-carpctcd sta
bic. and addressed hi, companion in expressive
pantonime
Finally we reached the humble shelter of the
blessed Virgin Mother. the gentle Madrina de
posted the waNen doll within the nianger where
she lay. beside which knct St. Joseph, the fos-
ter-father. and the Ma"i who had now arrived.
followed by the shepherds. the Pilgrims and all
the procession. Then llosannah> burst forth
anew. the Maids of Honor sang Il "Kvrie ele-
l-on' and jubate: after which the Youngsters
ran away to their games and sweets. and the
elders made ready for the midnight mass in the
grand Cathedral and the later tour of the city
churches. FANNIE 3. WARD.